Pico RGB Keypad Base

by Pimoroni

Connect a glorious, squishy, 4x4 rainbow-illuminated keypad to your Raspberry Pi Pico - perfect for making a custom USB input device!

Scoring very highly in the Pimoroni "things on our desk that make people say ooo" rankings, RGB Keypad Base equips a Pico with an eye-catching 4x4 silicone keypad, fully loaded with addressable APA102 LEDs so that each key can be illuminated in any colour that your little unicorn heart desires. It's all mounted on a sturdy base with rubber feet to keep it nice and level, with a handily labelled landing area for your Pico. We've broken out the full set of Pico pins to make it easy to connect up other hardware as well.

Connect your Pico project to another computer via USB for a beautiful macro keypad or a tidy midi controller. RGB Keypad Base would also work well in any project that would benefit from having fancy light up buttons as inputs - a code protected door lock perhaps, a disco dance floor for your fingers or a Simon Says style game with which to taunt your friends.

A Raspberry Pi Pico is not included - click here if you'd like to buy one!

Your Pico will need to have male headers soldered to it (with the pins pointing downwards) to attach to our add-on boards.

Features

  • 4x4 silicone keypad with conductive buttons
  • 16 x APA102 addressable RGB LEDs (datasheet)
  • Keypad buttons are connected via a TCA9555 IO expander (I2C address: 0x20).
  • Labelled landing area with female headers for attaching your Pico, with broken out pins.
  • Compatible with Raspberry Pi Pico.
  • Some assembly required!
  • No soldering required (as long as your Pico has header pins attached).
  • Dimensions: approx 60mm x 101mm x 16mm (L x W x H, assembled)
  • C/C++ and MicroPython libraries
  • PMK CircuitPython library
  • Schematic

Includes

  • 1x Pico RGB Keypad Base
  • 1x (reversible) square retainer plate
  • 1x silicone keypad
  • M2 8mm bolts and nuts
  • 4x rubber feet

Getting started

Turn the larger board over, and attach the little rubber feet to the paw print spaces on the bottom.

Flip it over again, and pop the silicone keypad over the buttons so the tabs fit into the holes. You can then slot the retainer plate over the top of the keys, matching up the key markings with those on the base board. You can install the retainer plate either way up, depending on whether you prefer it patterned or plain!

Poke the M2 bolts through the holes in the mounting plate (from the top) and screw on the nuts to keep all the layers sandwiched together. The bolts only need to be tightened up enough to keep the layers in place - if you find that the keys are hard to push or that the silicone layer is bulging out of the sides you might want to slacken them off a bit.

The labels on the base will show you which way round to attach your Pico - just match up the USB port to the markings on the board.

Software

The easiest way to get started is by downloading and copying our custom MicroPython uf2 to your Pico, it includes all the libraries you'll need to use our add-ons.

Alternatively, if you're interested in setting your RGB Keypad up as an easy to program macropad, midi controller or other USB input device, check out the PMK CircuitPython library!

Pinout

Pico RGB Keypad Base pinout

About Raspberry Pi Pico

Raspberry Pi Pico is a flexible, low cost microcontroller development board from the folks at Raspberry Pi, based on their very own chip - the RP2040. It's easily programmable over USB with C/C++ or MicroPython, and ideal for using in all sorts of physical computing projects, devices and inventions - we're so excited to see what you make with it!

We've called our Pico-sized add-ons packs, as they're designed to attach to the back of your Pico as if it were wearing a very stylish backpack (or a miniature jet pack, if you prefer). We've also got Pico bases (larger add-on boards with a space to mount your Pico on top) and some other boards that let you do interesting hackerly things like using multiple packs at once - click here to view them all!

84 customer reviews

4 months ago
I really Like the Kit cause it is really accessible Even for people without Programming skills
by Anonymous about Pico RGB Keypad Base via REVIEWS.io
4 months ago
The Pimoroni RGB Keypad Base is an excellent piece of hardware. It’s perfect for interactive projects and games. I’ve used it to create a Simon Says memory game and teach my kids to code. The keypad's responsive buttons and vivid RGB LEDs made it incredibly fun to program and play. The ability to assign unique colors to each button enhances gameplay while also providing visual clarity. Another fantastic use I’ve discovered is using the RGB Keypad as a Hue light controller. By mapping buttons to specific lights or scenes, I can control my smart home lighting setup with just a press. It’s intuitive, visually appealing, and adds a physical dimension to interacting with my Hue system. Overall, the Pimoroni RGB Keypad Base is an ideal accessory for the Raspberry Pi Pico. Whether you're building games, creating light shows, or designing smart home controls, this keypad offers versatility and creativity in a compact and well-designed package.
by Alex about Pico RGB Keypad Base via REVIEWS.io
5 months ago
great value! I've developped a few games the kid enjoy a lot: https://github.com/nherbaut/Pico-RGB-Keypad-Games
by Anonymous about Pico RGB Keypad Base via REVIEWS.io
5 months ago
Easy to assemble and bright. Had to use a third party image to get it working as a keyboard, but it works great as a macro pad :)
by David about Pico RGB Keypad Base via REVIEWS.io
a year ago
This is an awesome accessory and looks great in practice! The buttons have a great feel and responsiveness to them and look great when lit up. I'm using this as a sound mixer for D&D and can't wait for my next session!
by Will about Pico RGB Keypad Base via REVIEWS.io
a year ago
It's very cute. I like it. I'm using it to build a handy cyberdeck and I think I'll be buying a second soon. There are example libraries available and step-by-step instructions that were very helpful to a novice like me. I would have liked an example connecting something to the Pico using the I2C bus because the keyboard uses it too. But chatGPT helped me out and wrote the code I needed :)
by Robert about Pico RGB Keypad Base via REVIEWS.io
a year ago
great fun to use, simple assembly. even managed to play videos on the rgb keys in stunning 4p resolution
by Ed about Pico RGB Keypad Base via REVIEWS.io
a year ago
Wonderful piece. Makes what it should do. My target is to send complex Midi-commands to my equipment. Using a pico, an encoder, an oled-display and the keypad all is possible. Great thing 😂
by Norbert about Pico RGB Keypad Base via REVIEWS.io
a year ago
Great bit of kit. Easy for a relative noob like me, bit of help from chatGPT and got a little macropad/soundboard set up working with voicemod.
by Jack about Pico RGB Keypad Base via REVIEWS.io
2 years ago
Purchased this for a project and couldn't be happier. Compact form factor, bright lights and easy assembly. I do wish the MicroPython example was a bit more clear but it's by no means a deal-breaker.
by Nathan about Pico RGB Keypad Base via REVIEWS.io

11 user photos